Conaway Offers Amendments to Protect Veterans Access to Medicaid and SNAP

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Herb Conaway Jr., MD, offered several amendments during the House Veterans' Affairs Committee markup of 18 bills. Two of the amendments he submitted and discussed aimed to ensure that veterans retain access to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in light of the significant cuts proposed by Republicans to these programs. Both amendments were rejected, with every Republican on the committee voting against them.

"In my opinion, actions always speak louder than words," said Congressman Conaway. "Today, Republicans on the Veterans' Affairs Committee made it clear to every veteran that they don't believe veterans deserve the resources and support they've earned. The hypocrisy on display isn't limited to this committee-it reflects the stance of the majority of the Republican Conference."

Congressman Conaway's amendments were proposed for the following two bills:

• H.R. 1336, the Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Act: This amendment would add a provision establishing that all veterans who lose Medicaid coverage between January 20, 2025, and January 19, 2029, are eligible for Priority Group 6 within the VA healthcare system.

• H.R. 980, the Modernizing the Veterans On-Campus Experience Act of 2025: This amendment would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a cash subsidy for nutrition assistance directly to veterans.

"Approximately 1.6 million veterans are enrolled in Medicaid, and about 1.2 million veteran households rely on SNAP," Conaway continued. "Because of the majority's radical budget reconciliation process, committees have been directed to cut essential programs in order to fund President Trump's tax breaks for billionaires. I now firmly believe that some of my colleagues are willing to let veterans lose access to healthcare and nutrition support-because they had the chance to protect those benefits today, and they chose not to."

To read the Congressman's amendment click here for his Amendment to H.R.1336and here for his Amendment to H.R. 980.